Off to Toulon

[GIGS20]

Fairbrother, Kiwi birth, eligible for the Wallabies through an Australian ancestor of some sort, off north next year, will be a loss, but not as devastating as I thought it'd be after looking at K-Bomb in the last couple of weeks, will need to be replaced by somebody of genuine Super Rugby quality though, since Dunning is at the end of his contract as well, we can't expect Cowan, Longbottom and two rookies to cut it!

Ripia, kiwi development player (but interestingly only on a 2 year contract, you'd think he'd have 3!

Smith, Marquee since he's played for the UnZud sevens, one year, with suggestions he might be going north.....personally, having seen him play plenty, I think we've got his role pretty well covered now that some of our youngness have wheels, he's not really Masaga and Cummins is equally powerful.

[shasta]

Fairbrother qualifies for Wallaby selection through the RFU's grandparent scam.
So he can get a game but Radike Samo has missed what could have been a great career for Fiji if he wasn't "warehoused" by (Shuttup) Eddie Jones. Go figure.

EDIT: Sorry didn't see your post GIGS.

[AndyS]

On the topic of Toulon...

French club offers Sonny Bill $1.8m per season
David Long, Aaron Lawton April 17, 2011

THE battle for Sonny Bill Williams has reached boiling point.

Watertight sources have revealed Toulon have ramped up negotiations with his manager, Khoder Nasser, and are believed to be prepared to offer $1.8 million a year.

Nasser refused to comment last night but is understood to be in a strong position to negotiate.

The consortium assembling a bid for a new NRL franchise in Brisbane from 2013 is also chasing Williams as well as Wallabies hot-shot five-eighth Quade Cooper.

Three major sponsors are already committed to the new league team.

The NZRU is desperate to retain the highly marketable Williams after the World Cup but will be unable to match the money Toulon's Mourad Boudjellal is prepared to spend....

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/un...#ixzz1JqhDxbk4

[GIGS20]

Fairbrother qualifies for Wallaby selection through the RFU's grandparent scam.
So he can get a game but Radike Samo has missed what could have been a great career for Fiji if he wasn't "warehoused" by (Shuttup) Eddie Jones. Go figure.

EDIT: Sorry didn't see your post GIGS.

No apologies necessary, extended the tapestry nicely

[jauzy19]

David Smith to Toulon confirmed by both Midi Olympique and La Provence today.

[Burgs]

It's all French to me...

[Thequeerone]

This is a very rough translation

As reported in this paper Rudi Wulf is quitting after a season for personal reasons
Paul Sackby has not " made much noise ??? " in front of the Toulon crowd so we need new backs

As reported by this paper (sic!) April 15 an agreement is in place with David Smith.

David Smith his game to try ratios ( stats.. including the double try against Brumbies) history stuff Samoan played Air New Zealand Cup and Hurricanes Super14.

Another Super 15 player could rejoin Toulon - one wants to speak to SBW according to the SMH a final offer of 1.2 million euros has been made by the president - but he is only interested in Ben Marshall (13 ??? not sure what treiziste is) and by Matthies Bastaraudait.

also Toulon as reported Thursday are looking at the contract of Fillpe Comteponi - something about checking that there are no other agreements with London Irish



Lots and lots of speculation ???? we don't get any of this gossipy stuff but negotiations seem to be in full swing in Europe

[GIGS20]

As reported by this paper (sic!) April 15 an agreement is in place with David Smith.

that sounds very Growdenesque! "a respected rugby journalist with inside connections (me) has reported that the deal is done"

There's smoke but I don't trust smoke right now!

[shasta]

French club offers Sonny Bill $1.8m per season
David Long, Aaron Lawton April 17, 2011

Watertight sources have revealed Toulon have ramped up negotiations with his manager, Khoder Nasser

Not much has been ramped up there if the reports from France, when SBW was leaving to pursue the AB dream were accurate. Beaujawotsit reportedly offered him a $2m per year deal over 3 years to stay. So he effectively gave up about 3 mil over two years to play Rugby at the Crusaders and take his chances. Made me look at him and his reasons for walking out on Canterbury-Bankstown in a different light.

[GIGS20]

Not much has been ramped up there if the reports from France, when SBW was leaving to pursue the AB dream were accurate. Beaujawotsit reportedly offered him a $2m per year deal over 3 years to stay. So he effectively gave up about 3 mil over two years to play Rugby at the Crusaders and take his chances. Made me look at him and his reasons for walking out on Canterbury-Bankstown in a different light.

Could he be working on his brand, he's worth a helluva lot more as an Allblack superstar!

[Burgs]

Be worth even more as a World Cup winner.
Shame that isn't going to happen...

[shasta]

Cynics! Never give a Mungo an even break, eh.

[Alex]

Saint-Andre stays at Toulon as David Smith leaves Force for France
May 10, 2011 - 11:11AM

David Smith of the Force is heading to Toulon. Photo: Getty Images
Philippe Saint-Andre will retain his role as head coach of big-spending Top 14 side Toulon despite their failure to make the play-offs this season, club president Mourad Boudjellal said on Monday.

Boudjellal, who has poured millions of his personal fortune made from his comic book publishing empire into the club, added though that he would shake up the rest of the coaching staff with forwards coach Aubin Hueber and his defensive counterpart David Fraisse thought to be the most at risk.

"Saint-Andre will stay in his role, but he will have different people at his disposition," said 50-year-old Boudjellal.

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"It is my belief that we need to strengthen our coaching staff.

"Maybe there are certain people who should have new tasks, more suited to their limitations."

Boudjellal did confirm that one new face among the coaching staff would be former France scrum-half Pierre Mignoni, who retired after Toulon's defeat by Montpellier on Saturday which ended their season.

Mignoni will be the backs coach.

One back who he will not be coaching is former England wing Paul Sackey, who was released by the club on Monday after failing to please either Boudjellal or the coaching team despite scoring six tries in 20 appearances including two in a victory late in the season over Toulouse.

Sackey has been replaced by 24-year-old New Zealander David Smith, who has signed a two year contract from Australian Super 15 outfit Western Force and is the 10th new signing for next season.

Boudjellal said that he and Saint-Andre would also meet with controversial Welsh centre Gavin Henson and decide on his long-term future.

The 29-year-old - who was called-up to the Wales squad for their match with the Barbarians earlier on Monday - made three appearances for the club but came close to being sacked when he was rude about club fly-half and England great Jonny Wilkinson.



Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/un...#ixzz1Lvjoxpy2

[slomo]

EWF just announced smiths departure on facebook......

[theforceguy]

David scored his first try in Europe in a warm up match against Lyon 34-3 was the final score.